Section 2 – New England Colonies I. Religious Freedom (Pages 76-78) A. There were two groups of Protestants in England. Those who wanted to reform the Anglican Church were Puritans. Those who wanted to leave and set up their own church were Separatists. B. Some Separatists fled to the Netherlands for religious freedom. Some of these Separatists were given a guarantee by the Virginia Company to be able to practice their religion freely if they settled in Virginia. In return they had to share their profits with the Virginia Company. These people called themselves Pilgrims. C. The Mayflower carried Pilgrims to settle the Virginia colony. They landed north, however, at Plymouth, Massachusetts, due to the oncoming winter. Plymouth was not part of the Virginia Company territory and its laws did not apply. So the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Compact to provide laws to live by. It was the beginning of a representative government in America. D. The Pilgrims received help from the Native Americans in learning to plant crops and in hunting and fishing. Without them the Pilgrims may not have survived. Discussion Question How do you think the Pilgrims lives in America compared to their lives in England? II. New Settlements (Pages 78-80) A. More hard times beset the Puritans in England. In 1629a group received a royal charter and formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony located north of Plymouth. The group settled in Boston with John Winthrope as their governor. B. During the Great Migration in the 1630s, more than 15,000 Puritans came to Massachusetts to escape religious persecution and economic difficulties in England. C. An elected group called the General Court ran the colony. The Massachusetts Bay Colony created a colonial legislature when settlers wanted a larger role in government. Every adult male church member who also owned property could vote for their representatives to the General Court. D. Although the Puritans left England for religious freedom in America, they criticized, or persecuted, people who held religious beliefs other than theirs. This led to the formation of new colonies in America. E. Colonists began to settle along the fertile Connecticut River valley in the 1630s. F. In 1636 Thomas Hooker founded Hartford. Three years later, Hartford and two neighboring towns adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. This was the first written constitution in America. G. Roger Williams, a minister, established Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, where religious toleration existed. People could worship as they pleased. H. In 1638John Wheelwright founded the colony of New Hampshire. It became independent of Massachusetts in 1679. Discussion Question Why were the Puritans so intolerant of religious views other than their own?
I. Religious Freedom (Pages 76-78)
A. There were two groups of Protestants in England. Those who wanted to reform the Anglican Church were Puritans. Those who wanted to leave and set up their own church were Separatists.
B. Some Separatists fled to the Netherlands for religious freedom. Some of these Separatists were given a guarantee by the Virginia Company to be able to practice their religion freely if they settled in Virginia. In return they had to share their profits with the Virginia Company. These people called themselves Pilgrims.
C. The Mayflower carried Pilgrims to settle the Virginia colony. They landed north, however, at Plymouth, Massachusetts, due to the oncoming winter. Plymouth was not part of the Virginia Company territory and its laws did not apply. So the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Compact to provide laws to live by. It was the beginning of a representative government in America.
D. The Pilgrims received help from the Native Americans in learning to plant crops and in hunting and fishing. Without them the Pilgrims may not have survived.
Discussion Question
How do you think the Pilgrims lives in America compared to their lives in England?
II. New Settlements (Pages 78-80)
A. More hard times beset the Puritans in England. In 1629a group received a royal charter and formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony located north of Plymouth. The group settled in Boston with John Winthrope as their governor.
B. During the Great Migration in the 1630s, more than 15,000 Puritans came to Massachusetts to escape religious persecution and economic difficulties in England.
C. An elected group called the General Court ran the colony. The Massachusetts Bay Colony created a colonial legislature when settlers wanted a larger role in government. Every adult male church member who also owned property could vote for their representatives to the General Court.
D. Although the Puritans left England for religious freedom in America, they criticized, or persecuted, people who held religious beliefs other than theirs. This led to the formation of new colonies in America.
E. Colonists began to settle along the fertile Connecticut River valley in the 1630s.
F. In 1636 Thomas Hooker founded Hartford. Three years later, Hartford and two neighboring towns adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. This was the first written constitution in America.
G. Roger Williams, a minister, established Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, where religious toleration existed. People could worship as they pleased.
H. In 1638John Wheelwright founded the colony of New Hampshire. It became independent of Massachusetts in 1679.
Discussion Question
Why were the Puritans so intolerant of religious views other than their own?